We found ourselves going through "family withdrawal" as we began to pack up our bags and head back home. It was difficult to leave my sister-in-law and brother-in-law and for that reason, I have added this final installment to my blogs about Pappa Bell.
It was something that just came about accidentally. Bethany, our family photographer, carries her camera everywhere she goes and began taking pictures of Pappa's hands as he lay sleeping on last Friday afternoon. They were swollen from so many ports and IV tubes -- but still they were same hands that had worked tirelessly during his lifetime.
Pappa was a fisherman, hunter, gardener and builder. He could build anything he set his mind to and loved even more doing it from used items as he was very frugal. After the Tornado struck Wichita Falls in 1979, he collected all sorts of discarded doors, plumbing and two by fours and built a shed in the backyard. He planted pecan trees everywhere he could and spent the fall and winter harvesting the pecans and shelling them out for all the rest of us. He cared for Meemee with those strong hands and even made some of the best pies and soups. We all received our share from Pappa's hardworking hands.
One thing we all noticed was that even to the very end Pop's hands still had a firm grip. I found that out whenever we had to do a procedure he didn't want to endure.
Early on they wanted to restrain him with velco wrist straps, but we found that when we held his hand his restlessness would subside and his breathing become more peaceful and he would relax.
Bethany and her cousin Delaney decided to capture photos of Pappa's hands with his children, grandchildren and great granddaughter and combine these with other pictures of him during his lifetime and back it with the song "Daddy's Hands" to create a memorial powerpoint. It became the theme of his service on yesterday.
About my father-in-law, Artie Bell, I would say, The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. HE has watched over your journey. Deut. 2:7
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